Units you can study
Choose from the undergraduate or postgraduate options on offer across a range of disciplines. As long as you meet the prerequisites, you can choose subjects from any of our discipline areas to suit your interests.
Most units have a lecture and a tutorial each week. Lectures and tutorials for postgraduate units are usually held in the evenings.
Approved units
All students can study these units, regardless of your academic background. These units will be approved on your QUT study plan after you apply.
Computer science
CAB210 User Experience Fundamentals
User experience (UX) means how a person feels when interacting with digital technology, like mobile applications, web services and games. This unit introduces user experience methods to study people’s needs in a real-world context, and to evaluate the usability and experience with technologies. This unit is important to inform the design and development of technologies that meet the needs of people who are going to use them and the context within which they will be used. A stronger understanding of user experience will provide you with an edge in the market place for jobs such as interaction designers, usability engineers, game designers, app developers, information architects, and user experience designers.
CAB222 Networks
Building on your digital systems knowledge, you will be introduced to practical and theoretical knowledge on a wide range of modern networking topics to be able to design, implement and maintain network-based applications. You will participate in practical networking exercises to provide hands-on experience with network-based computing. You will gain proficiency in using network tools commonly used by industry professionals for traffic capture and analysis, security analysis, and troubleshooting in production networks —essential skills required for network operations in the IT industry.
CAB340 Cryptography
The dependence of modern society on remote electronic data transmission and storage makes it an essential requirement that this data be secured, both against unwanted disclosure and malicious alterations. This unit provides a self-contained introduction to the field of cryptography, from historical roots and attacks, to the mathematical principles that underpin the workings of the modern ciphers most commonly in use for securing internet communications. The focus of this unit is on a grounded understanding of cryptographic designs and their limitations, which in turn inform how they are used in practice.
CAB401 High Performance and Parallel Computing
Building on your skills in "sequential" programming, this unit teaches you the tools and techniques needed to exploit multi-processor computer systems to achieve dramatic performance improvements for computationally intensive problems. This unit gives you both an understanding of why future computer hardware will be increasingly parallel, the challenges this poses for software development as well as a set of practical skills in creating high-performance programs using today's best tools and techniques.
CAB403 Systems Programming
Most of our other Computer Science units focus on high-level applications programming. Applications programmers are insulated from the low- level intricacies of the underlying hardware by making use of services provided by the operating system such as threads, virtual memory, file systems and device drivers. This unit focuses on Systems Programming, where the programmer can’t necessarily rely on high level services provided by the operating system and must interact directly with the underlying hardware. Systems software is either part of the operating system or software that operates at a similar level. This unit aims to give you practical programming skills for developing systems level applications and services.
CAB432 Cloud Computing
Cloud Computing is among the most important developments in the IT industry in recent years, and one which has received enormous attention. Cloud is a natural progression from earlier trends in service and infrastructure outsourcing and virtualisation, but is distinguished by its elasticity and scale: service and infrastructure provisioning may change rapidly in response to variations in demand, allowing clients to cater for unexpected spikes in load without tying up capital in expensive and potentially underutilised assets. Cloud services and technologies are becoming increasingly diverse and sophisticated, moving rapidly from the original 'bare metal' offerings and providing a rich set of options and APIs. This unit provides a technically oriented introduction to Cloud Computing, giving you experience in developing modern cloud applications and deploying them to the public clouds of the major vendors.
ENN524 Mobile Network Engineering
Wireless communications, mobile networks and Internet of Things have been widely deployed and integrated into various mobile platforms for value-added services. This unit highlights the recent advances in wireless local area and wireless wide area networks, vehicular networks and Internet of Things with focus on basic principles, selected standards and protocols. The unit also provides an overview for mobile satellite systems and navigation satellite systems and applications
IFB102 Introduction to Computer Systems
This is an introductory computer science unit concerning computer systems, in particular how modern computer systems work, how they are structured, and how they operate. Computer systems are ubiquitous and yet they are unlike any other man-made product or system; they appear magical and are notoriously difficult to work with and manage in projects. This unit’s goal is to demystify computer systems so you can appreciate, understand and utilise computer systems in their subsequent learning, and effectively participate in the IT industry. You will study computers, networks, operating systems and the Web. Raspberry Pi computers will be used throughout the unit and at the end you will build their own small computer system using a Raspberry Pi.
IFB104 Introduction to Programming
This unit provides a hands-on introduction to computer programming for students with no prior coding experience at all. It introduces the basic principles of programming in a typical imperative language, including expressions, assignment, functions, choice and iteration. It then shows how to use Application Programming Interfaces to complete common Information Technology tasks such as querying databases, creating user interfaces, and searching for patterns in large datasets. It finally connects the technical approaches to professional and entrepreneurial contexts. The emphasis is on developing skills through practice, so the unit includes numerous coding exercises and assignments, using a simple scripting language, a code development environment and a Generative AI tool. The unit establishes a foundation for later subjects that teach large-scale software development using industrial-strength programming languages.
IFB240 Cyber Security
Cyber security breaches, from database hacking to malware campaigns, are increasing. The interconnectedness of information systems means the actions of individuals impact many others. This unit is important in developing an understanding of the challenges involved in protecting information assets. Fundamental information security concepts are introduced. Security goals including confidentiality, integrity, availability, authentication and non-repudiation are defined. Threats to information and vulnerabilities that could be exploited are identified. Technical and non-technical measures to provide security for information are discussed in areas including access control, cryptography, and network communications. Cyber security management standards and best practice implementation guidelines are reviewed. You can take this unit as a stand-alone course to raise your cyber security awareness, or as a pathway to cyber security units, including network security and cryptography.
IFB320 Generative AI
Generative AI is one of the most significant developments in machine learning research in recent years, and one that has received enormous attention in industry, academia and among the general public. Many industries are being transformed by advancements in this space and it is the subject of significant media attention. This unit is a technically-focused jump into the world of large language models and other forms of Generative AI, through both theory and practical applications.
IFN509 Introduction to Data Science
This fundamental data science unit addresses the core concepts, techniques and practices in data science. In the information age, with large amounts of data produced and made available every minute, data exploration and mining have become necessary for individuals and organisations to unlock the power of data. This unit will introduce you to various data exploration and mining methods to manipulate, model and analyse data. You will explore the complete data science lifecycle and also the importance of data ethics and privacy, and issues of fairness and diversity in data collection, analysis, and algorithmic decision-making.This is an introductory unit and the knowledge and skills developed in this unit are relevant to both data science and non-data science majors. This unit also allows you to review your personal values, attitudes, and goals set for data science learning including consideration of sustainability concerns.
IFN581 Programming Fundamentals
This unit provides a hands-on introduction to computer programming for students with no prior coding experience. It introduces the basic building blocks of algorithms: sequence, selection and iteration and how algorithmic thinking is used to decompose problems into simpler steps. The Python language is used for expressing these concepts in a programming language, which is widely used in the industry. The unit introduces an imperative style of programming in which a sequence of statements changes the program’s state using variables that contain data of various types. The unit introduces the processes for debugging and testing programs and the forms of professional communication associated with software development. The principles of object oriented programming is introduced to help overcome complexity when developing larger programs. The concepts of abstraction and encapsulation are introduced.by using classes, objects and methods.
IFN583 Computer Systems and Security
This unit addresses the core concepts of a computer system: how modern computer systems work, how they are structured, and how they operate. Additionally, the unit teaches you about modern computer environments including networks as well as introducing the fundamental concepts of cyber security in the context of computer systems. In particular, you will learn about controls and countermeasures to mitigate identified security risks, considering the threats, vulnerabilities and security goals of an organization. Understanding the fundamental concepts enables you to adapt with the evolution of computer systems in the future.
IFN584 Object-Oriented Design and Development
Object orientation is a program design principle applicable to software at various scales. In this unit you will extend your knowledge of small-scale object-oriented programming to large-scale systems in which the classes and objects mirror their real-world counterparts in the business-level processes the software supports (e.g., customers, orders, products, projects, etc). To do so you will learn about and apply several standard software design principles and patterns applicable to large-scale IT systems, and you will learn how such designs are communicated professionally and used as part of object-oriented software development processes. You will then implement those designs in an industry-standard object-oriented programming language, making use of its various library modules. Depending on the nature of the practical projects you complete this could require implementing user interfaces, executing concurrent threads, interacting with databases, and so on.
IFN649 Internet of Things
This unit is designed for graduate students in the Masters of IT. Students will learn the theory, architecture, hardware/software, and programming of networks, including network services, Internet-of-Things (IoT), as well the security, trust, and privacy considerations in these networks. You will learn the theory and practice of building, monitoring, and tailoring computer networks to applications, including core network functions and services such as routing. You will also learn about the theory and practice of IoT networks that underpin the 'fourth industrial revolution'. There are two main components of the unit: collaborative learning activities covering the principles involved, and practical assignments in which you will build your own miniature networks using free open source software on virtual servers and on IoT devices.
IFN738 Industry Research Project (Phase 2)
The aim of IFN738 is to provide you with the opportunity to integrate and apply your broad and specialised knowledge and skills gained from your degree to conduct real-world industry research project, in collaboration with an industry client and academic mentor who will form your research team. IFN738 builds upon its partner unit IFN737. In IFN738 you will further develop your understanding of research principles and methodologies, and enhance your skills in data analysis, problem-solving, and communicating research outcomes. At the end of this unit, you will have a high level of research capability, allowing you to conduct research and contribute to various professional settings. Additionally, the unit aims to produce graduates who are well-prepared for PhD research positions in universities and research-oriented roles in public organisations, and private corporations, including positions as research-active staff and technical personnel supporting research activities.
IGB200 Game Studio 2: Applied Game Development
In Game Studio 2 you will develop a digital game-based experience to meet a defined project brief. Game Studio units are fundamental to the BGIE, and focus on the integration of design principles with practical development skills. In many contexts, game designers and developers work towards a predefined design brief, and in this unit you will build a game to meet the requirements set by an industry partner. You will work in transdisciplinary teams to create this interactive experience, applying your discipline expertise and emerging project management skills. You will employ an agile development process that allows for evaluation of the emerging product. The processes employed throughout the unit will extend your understanding of industry practices, allowing you to develop the professional and interpersonal skills required to succeed within this profession.
IGB283 Game Engine Theory and Application
This unit will introduce you to the mathematics for computer graphics and games. Instead of just teaching mathematics, this unit focuses on taking mathematical theory and learning to program small examples in a game engine. The core parts of any game engine are the mathematical representations and algorithms. This unit will give you a basic understanding of the mathematics behind 3D graphics and games and the ability to apply the theory to solve problems in game engine development and software development in related areas. This unit will provide you with foundation knowledge and skills for programming and using 3D game engines. It is a pre-requisite for following advanced units that will build on these skills to provide you with enough knowledge to develop your own game engine and to have a deeper insight into popular commercial engines and tools used in the course.
IGB321 Immersive Game Level Design
Level design is a critical, key component to any video game, no matter how abstract or realistic. It is crucial that a level designer has the ability to lay out levels, construct levels within the game engines, plan gameplay scenarios and place non-player characters. This unit will help students develop these abilities as well as skills such as building terrain, building architecture and spaces, balancing gameplay, integrating narrative elements and goals, playtesting and implementing iterative design improvements, designing lighting and atmospheric effects and other genre-specific level design skills using the Unreal game engine. Students are expected to have some degree of high level game design skills and preliminary scripting abilities for this unit.
IGB383 AI for Games
The core concepts, principles and practices of designing and implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI) within computer games are explored and implemented within this unit. The introduction of modern theoretical models as well as commercial examples provides a foundational understanding of both the history and future of Game AI. This is particularly important when designing natural and/or humanistic behavioural effects of Non-Player Characters (NPC). Knowledge and skills developed during this unit adhere directly to modern Game and AI development and are required of industry practitioners today. You will develop an understanding of the field and develop expertise in addressing modern Game AI algorithms and problems.
Information systems
DSB201 Advanced Databases
This unit introduces you to the technologies that can be used to address challenges in managing fast incoming, voluminous, and varied data that is increasingly being relied on to make decisions in today's business environment. You will develop practical skills in using advance database technologies that will prepare you to be a data analyst, business analyst, solution architect, as well as enterprise architect.
DSB202 Data Ethics and Society
In this unit you will explore ethical concerns associated with information and data, and develop a personal ethical stance which will help you approach data science tasks in an ethical way. The unit will investigate ethical problems that can arise in the use of information including issues associated with fairness and dignity, transparency and privacy, sovereignty and the law, governance and regulation, AI and emerging technologies, and balancing competing rights. The unit will use real examples from contemporary applications of data science and information technologies, analysing the practical effects of good versus poor ethical practices. You will use ethical theory to help identify your own personal stance on ethical issues, and in doing so shape your own ethical position and provide you with approaches that you can use in practice. Successful completion of this unit will prepare you to be able to face ethical issues in your future work and respond thoughtfully to them.
IAB201 Modelling Techniques for Information Systems
This is an introductory unit that will provide you with the foundational skills and knowledge required for understanding, designing and analysing information systems. The unit aims to develop an ability to manage the complexity of contemporary and future information systems and the domains in which they are used. It will also provide you with the skills to design artefacts, fit for purpose and audience, that can be used to solve real-world problems related to information systems. Unit content will play an important role in future units and a wide variety of professional IT activities. This unit expands on knowledge acquired in IFB103: IT Systems Design by introducing conceptual modelling techniques that underpin most modern systems modelling languages. Subsequent units will build on the conceptual modelling skills learned in this unit, for example, by applying it to the techniques covered in IAB203: Business Process Modelling and IAB204: Business Requirements Analysis.
IAB203 Process Modelling
This unit introduces business process management concepts: how organisations improve their processes in terms of time, cost and quality. It introduces process identification and process discovery. Furthermore, it addresses the fundamentals of process modelling: model quality, correctness issues and modelling in BPMN's collaboration and choreography diagrams. After this unit, IAB320 continues with other business process improvement steps.
IAB251 Software Engineering for Enterprise Systems
This unit provides knowledge and skills related to software engineering, applied to the design, development, configuration, and maintenance of Enterprise Systems. Enterprise Systems (ES) are large-scale software applications that serve as the operations of modern organizations, such as managing customers, controlling production, and connecting to suppliers, and more. You will learn how to analyse business needs, design software architectures, and develop, test and deploy software applications. To support this you will learn, key aspects of software engineering using a real-world ES Platform. This will include: software design patterns; multi-tier software components and rapid composition of solutions; testing; DevOps; and agile development. By the end of the unit, you will become proficient at these for real-world projects and software development.
IAB330 Applied Internet of Things
This unit equips you with the theoretical foundations and practical expertise needed to design and implement innovative IoT solutions for real-world challenges. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of IoT architectures, sensor integration, data processing workflows, and the application of machine learning in IoT contexts. Through a balanced approach of lectures and hands-on activities, the unit covers critical topics such as IoT system components, hardware-software integration, data collection, preprocessing, storage strategies, and machine learning techniques customised for IoT applications. By emphasising experiential learning, you will develop end-to-end IoT solutions, addressing practical problems and honing skills essential for careers in the dynamic and fast-growing IoT industry.
IAB401 Enterprise Architecture
This unit covers Enterprise Architecture (EA) theory and practice concerning how business and IT systems are planned and designed using modelling techniques. EA focuses on organisational capability maps, which reflect what companies do, independent of business. The techniques for capturing different artefacts relevant to systems planning at business and IT levels will include business services, processes, information and resources. You will be taught to develop a multi-layered EA using state-of-the-art techniques, such as TOGAF, Archimate, and UML modelling, based on industry-relevant digital practices and technologies. Significantly, this unit extends your knowledge and skills to model and design enterprise architecture solutions, enabling you to pursue careers in EA, modelling, design and solution architecture. The unit links to and extends learning from previous units in Data and Information Management and Process Modelling.
IAB410 Enterprise Data & AI Governance
In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape with new data and artificial intelligence (AI) opportunities, effective and responsible governance is essential for organisational success, ethical integrity, and regulatory compliance. The Enterprise Data and AI Governance unit equips you with the strategic insight and practical expertise to navigate the complexities of governing digital assets confidently. You will do so by leveraging governance frameworks to create value for an organisation and its stakeholders, supported by a practical blend of theory and real-world insights. You will master good practices in corporate, data, and AI governance, ensuring alignment between organisational goals and technological capabilities. This unit uniquely equips you with the comprehensive skills needed to advance enterprises in a data-driven, AI-enabled world.
IFB103 IT Systems Design
The success of any IT system - whether a mobile, web app, or core platform - lies in the quality of its design. Design combines creative and technical skills to develop blueprints and prototypes that guide software development. Design covers frontend aspects where users access data and complete tasks, and backend aspects, including software components, databases, and platforms. This unit exposes you to these key design aspects. You will learn design principles and techniques alongside hands-on learning applied to real-world problems. This unit will fast-track your understanding by showing how applications like Google Maps and Facebook are designed. You will work individually and in teams, and learn to communicate design proposals using informal and formal diagrams to gain buy-in and support implementation. You will gain a coherent introduction to IT systems and the key professional roles involved in IT design work (e.g., systems/business analysts and solution architects).
IFB105 Database Management
This is an introductory unit on database addressing the core concepts, requirements and practices of databases. It introduces conceptual data modeling to address a key area of concern of modeling structured data to build a comprehensive understanding of the data aspect of a problem. You will learn how to transform such data model into a relational database design as well as how to effectively retrieve data through SQL queries. Normalization, database security/administration, other special topics and ethical aspects related to information systems are also covered. IAB207 Rapid Web App Development, IAB303 Data Analytics for Business Insights and the Capstone units IFB398 Capstone 1 and IFB399 Capstone 2 build on this unit for data storage/retrieval and business insights. IAB206 Modern Data Management extends this unit earning to unstructured data such as graphs and documents which are also gaining popularity in the real world.
IFB201 Introduction to Enterprise Computing
This unit provides an introduction to enterprise systems, the most widely used form of software technology in the business world. It will provide you with a background of the different aspects of businesses that they manage, such as resources, teams, products, services, customers and suppliers, and prominent types of enterprise systems in the market, including customer relationship management, enterprise resource planning, supply chain management systems. Based on this background, you will learn how to design, develop and effectively utilise enterprise systems from three perspectives. These are: business processes through which activities are coordinated across an organisation; software applications which provide the programming code underpinning the processes; and decision-making in which data is combined and visualised for users to determine critical outcomes.
IFN515 Fundamentals of Business Process Management
This unit provides an in-depth introduction to the management of business processes. It takes you through the fundamental lifecycle phases of a typical business process improvement initiative, from process identification to process monitoring, covering process modelling, analysis, improvement, and automation. The techniques learned include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander process views and sustainable practices for waste management as defined by the UN (Goal 12 and Goal 8) in designing robust process solutions. The unit emphasises a practical approach, integrating real-world examples through case vignettes, detailed studies, and industry talks. Assessment is centred on a real-world case study, enabling the application of learned concepts to real-life scenarios. Additionally, we showcase the career journeys and successes of former students, illustrating how the unit aids career advancement and offers mentoring opportunities for your benefit.
IFN561 Enterprise Systems Lifecycle Management
This is a transitionary unit, providing students with fundamental information systems skills relating to different practices in managing information systems in large, enterprise-level organisations. Information systems and enterprises are becoming inextricably interwoven. It has become nearly impossible to talk meaningfully about enterprises that are not dependent on information systems of one type or another. An important role of managers is to understand what type of information system they should use to achieve the business strategic objectives or to improve existing business capabilities. This unit provides students with fundamental skills that business analysts or IT managers are required to have in order to be able to analyse business strategies, evaluate how information systems may enable enterprises to achieve strategic objectives, and understand how such an information system can be developed and implemented within an enterprise.
IFN582 Rapid Web Development with Databases
This foundational unit covers both database management and web application development. It explores core concepts, principles, and skills essential for understanding, designing, and effectively managing databases. You will learn how to transform a conceptual model into a relational database design as well as how to use database querying techniques for data retrieval and manipulation. You will apply your data skills by designing and building an interactive dynamic web application using well-known frameworks such as Bootstrap, and Python-Flask while generating effective, ethical, and culturally sensitive solutions.
IFN585 Systems Innovation and Design
Organisations are continuously transforming to leverage the potential of information systems. Effective transformation requires leadership to clearly define business problems that information systems can help address. This unit focuses on two key components that support such transformation: data analysis and visualisation, and systems innovation and design. The first component introduces you to data analysis and visualisation, enabling you to explore patterns, generate insights, and communicate findings that support evidence-based decision-making. The second component introduces system dynamics modelling, equipping you with tools to understand and design complex systems through feedback loops and scenario analysis. Together, these approaches enable you to analyse problems, model solutions, and support informed organisational decisions through the strategic use of information systems.
IFN635 Cyber Security and Governance
Cybersecurity is the practice of safeguarding an organisation's critical infrastructure from cyber threats, including ransomware, malware, and phishing. Critical infrastructure encompasses IT components (software, platforms, computing infrastructure, networks, devices) and physical spaces. Infrastructure attacks have increased the need for cyber risk management skills. This unit builds on Computer Systems and Security (IFN583) and offers a broad introduction to cybersecurity and governance frameworks, covering security practices across people, processes, and technology. Topics include threat assessment, risk management, incident response, security compliance, awareness initiatives, and cloud security. You will learn from real-world case studies to prepare for roles as cybersecurity professionals, gaining theoretical knowledge and practical skills to detect, investigate, and remediate cyberattacks. This unit also prepares you for advanced studies in the cybersecurity major.
IFN654 Lean Six Sigma
This unit provides a comprehensive introduction to Lean Six Sigma, a rigorous and disciplined methodology, widely used in practice, that uses organisational data and statistical analysis to measure and improve the performance of an organisation's business processes. As a specialisation unit of BPM, it aims to develop learners’ knowledge about different process improvement methodologies and develop specific intermediate skills in solving real-world business problems. The unit addresses the key concepts, methods and techniques in LSS including inclusive design, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives on sustainability and waste. In particular, it focuses on introducing the Six Sigma approach known as DMAIC while incorporating the principles of Lean Management. The unit content is aligned with the universally accepted Lean Six Sigma Body of Knowledge for Green Belts, developed by the International Association for Six Sigma Certification.
IFN655 Advanced Business Intelligence Concepts for Enterprise Systems
This unit elevates the Business Intelligence (BI) expertise for enterprise systems by focusing on sophisticated use of data science and machine learning in enterprise settings. BI represents a process fuelled by technology, focusing on the analysis of data and the delivery of actionable insights, crucial for the planning and decision-making activities carried out by executives, managers, and staff. This unit involves AI-driven analytics, data science, machine learning techniques and tools, and advanced IoT analytics, thereby preparing students for high-level managerial decision-making. To support this, you will learn advanced predictive modelling, real-time analytics, and complex data visualization. The unit also covers data Ops, security, and governance. The unit provides a rich exposure to real-world BI platforms, integrating advanced BI skills from data analysis to strategic decision support, ensuring graduates are adept in both technology and its business applications.
Units requiring approval
Students need specific academic background knowledge to study these units, so we will assess your eligibility and determine if you’re able to take these units after you apply. We will let you know the outcome through the application portal as soon as possible.
Computer science
CAB201 Object-Oriented Programming and Design
This unit builds on foundational programming skills introduced in IFB104, EGB103, or MZB126, where you learned to create algorithms using sequence, selection, and iteration and applied functions for code abstraction and reuse. In this unit, these core concepts are reinforced and extended with additional abstraction techniques that help manage complexity in larger software systems. You will also be introduced to object-oriented principles that organise solutions around classes - a real world representation of objects. This approach achieves a flexible architecture to evolve to changing user needs. This unit prepares you for more advanced programming units.
CAB302 Agile Software Engineering
This unit teaches you how to work effectively in a team to develop large-scale software systems. It includes principles of teamwork, modern software development methodologies, agile project management, and tools that are needed when working in a team on a large project. You will learn how to design and implement an accessible and usable application, testing the code quality through industry-relevant practices and methodologies. You will learn how to work and thrive in a diverse and interdisciplinary team, and will work on industry-inspired projects, receiving feedback and support to your learning throughout the project journey.
CAB330 Machine Learning for Decision Making
Machine Learning has become a popular technology for decision-making, transforming an organisation's large data collection into actionable insights about customers and business processes. It has direct applications in several fields, including social networks, business processes, search engines, e-commerce, digital libraries, bioinformatics and web information systems. This unit provides fundamental knowledge and skills in data analytics and machine learning to support data-driven decision-making in diverse and interdisciplinary applications. You will learn about machine learning and data mining techniques, including classification, clustering and association mining, and explore how these AI methods can be applied to text and web usage data. This is an introductory unit, and the knowledge and skills developed here are relevant to all IT professionals.
CAB443 Systems Security
Systems security focuses on the organisational practices that ensure the security requirements of systems, which are composed of interconnected components and connections and the networking software that supports those interconnections. More specifically, systems security requires a holistic design thinking approach to systems. This includes the importance of security policy models, as well as organised identification and authentication processes. Systems security also addresses system access control, system management, system control processes, system recovery and system security documentation.
CAB444 Secure Network Architectures
As a system administrator or information security professional, you are expected to have an in-depth understanding of various network security controls, principles, and analysis tools and their use in a wider cybersecurity context. In this unit, you will analyse real-world security incidents and learn to use tools and protection measures to design, build, test and maintain an organisation’s security infrastructure that can effectively withstand cyber threats and fortify defenses.
IFN645 Machine Learning at Scale
The data that modern data scientists have access to is larger and more complex than in previous generations. Dealing with these data requires specialised algorithms and the use of a higher performance or cloud computing environment. This unit outlines the challenges and opportunities associated with big data and introduces machine learning algorithms that scale to large datasets. This unit will expand on the material presented in earlier data science units and students will use their programming knowledge to implement machine learning algorithms to address real world problems.
IFN646 Biomedical Data Science
Biology and medicine are becoming data-intensive disciplines. From new sequencing technologies to electronic health records and wearable devices, it has never been easier or cheaper to generate biomedical data. This provides a great opportunity to study complex biological systems, to offer better patient care, etc., but working with this data is not trivial. This advanced unit will teach you how to handle and analyse biomedical data, as well as gain an appreciation of its strengths, limitations and complexities so that you can understand and critically interpret measurements and analyses. The unit aims to provide you with knowledge of modern biomedical technologies and the associated data science methodologies, building on what you have learned in IFN509.
IFN657 Software Security
A software system is secure if it satisfies a specified or implied security objective related to the confidentiality, integrity and availability requirements for the system’s data and functionality. A security failure is a scenario where the software system does not achieve its security objective. They can often be attributed to poor software design and implementation, including poor understanding of code-level security requirements, inadequate handling of exceptional cases, incomplete descriptions of the interface between components for secure interactions, and insufficient care in the use of programming languages. This Software Security unit provides a structured overview of known categories of software vulnerabilities, and of techniques that can be used to prevent or detect such vulnerabilities, or to mitigate their exploitation.
IFN692 Interaction Design for Human Centred AI
In IFN692 you will learn how to use Interaction Design to imagine, prototype, evaluate, and critique AI based services and applications such as conversational systems based on generative AI, autonomous transport, social robots, and more. Interaction Design and User Centred methods allow to look beyond the new technologies, to the new experiences, business practices, and forms of social interactions that these technologies will make possible, which is key to leading design innovation. IFN692 builds on the methods and principles encountered in IFN637 - Understanding the User Experience - and will add tools, methods, knowledge and critical skills that you will apply in the context of a design project, from exploring the social and cultural context of the design intervention, to envisioning possible futures for, with, and by users, up to prototyping and testing the interaction with artificial intelligence in a realistic setting.
Information systems
IAB305 IT Strategy and Management
This unit provides the essential skills and knowledge for managing an information system across its lifecycle, spanning inception, design, implementation and production release. For systems inception, it covers the way an information system is proposed and justified, at the highest level, using a business model and business case analysis. Systems design encompasses the planning and management aspects of both business and systems architecture to support new design proposals. Systems implementation focusses on the different options and processes for purchasing off-the-shelf solutions in support of systems design. Production release covers the planning of IT infrastructure to host and run digital solutions as well as organisational change management. The unit expands on skills from IFB103 Systems Design and IAB201 Modelling Techniques for Information Systems. The skills learned in this unit will be utilised and further developed in IAB401 Enterprise Architecture.
IAB320 Process Improvement
This unit fosters the development of your process analysis, improvement, and design skills. These skills and capabilities will prepare you to undertake the digital transformation challenges of today’s organisations. You will understand and apply a variety of methods, tools, techniques, and approaches for organisational-wide process improvement initiatives. You will be exposed to a robust selection of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques as well as key process redesign paradigms used in the industry. This will involve developing your knowledge and expertise in different process improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma and Process Reengineering using a hands-on teaching approach with real-life case studies to enable authentic learning outcomes.
IAB353 Data Analytics for Enterprise Systems
This unit provides knowledge and skills for supporting Business Intelligence (BI) using enterprise systems. BI is a technology-driven process for analysing data and delivering actionable outcomes as part of planning and decision-making tasks undertaken by executives, managers, and workers. It involves data science and machine learning techniques and tools applied to key aspects of businesses including products, services, customers and resources. You will be exposed to the planning, modelling, reporting, and prediction structures underpinning business intelligence. To support this, you will learn, Data preparation, analysis and modelling, predictions, and visualization. In addition, you will be exposed to advanced data analytics capabilities including, real-time analytics and Internet of Things (IoT) analytics. This will be applied through a comprehensive framework that supports data Ops, data security, and governance. The unit provides a rich exposure to real-world BI platforms.
IFB220 Introduction to AI for IT Professionals
In this unit, you'll discover how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping our world and driving unprecedented innovation, poised to revolutionize how we live and work. We'll cover the fundamental concepts and applications of AI, with a special focus on Generative AI. You'll learn how AI systems function, how they differ from human intelligence, and how to critically evaluate AI-generated information. We'll explore practical methods for integrating AI into IT systems, examine AI's impact on various industries, and discuss ethical, social, and legal concerns. You'll investigate how businesses plan to use AI to add value and enhance productivity, and assess the impact on jobs and skills. Through a mix of theoretical knowledge and practical exercises, you'll learn to effectively apply AI for ongoing learning, writing, and professional tasks. By the end of this unit, you'll be equipped with the foundational skills necessary to leverage AI in your future IT career.
IFN623 Human Information Interaction
In contemporary societies, Humans often interact with information by means of technologically driven systems. As our information environment becomes ever more complex, these interactions are becoming more and more diverse. While much is understood about the systems side of this picture, much less is understood about how humans interact with technology-mediated information. Students will investigate cognitive, technological and theoretical perspectives of how humans interact with and process information when interacting with contemporary information technologies (e.g. conversational agents, generative AI, wearable technologies, and embedded environments). This understanding will be translated into conceptual frameworks and associated design principles for critiquing and curating effective interactions and exploring broader implications.
IFN631 IT Governance
This executive-focused Information Technology (IT) unit addresses the core concepts, frameworks and methods for IT leaders (e.g. CIOs, IT Managers) to support their organizations in creating and delivering business value with information and technology through business-IT alignment. Three main outcomes that can be expected after successfully adopting IT governance are benefits realization, risk optimization, and resource optimization. The unit takes an enterprise-wide, managerial perspective on how IT executives can facilitate the transition towards digital business and set the executive agenda for IT in larger organizations by addressing traditional IT governance topics such as the enterprise governance of IT, benefits management and risk management as well as contemporary digital governance topics such as digital transformation, big data, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
IFN653 Business Process Automation
This unit provides a detailed technical and practical exposition of modern business process automation. In order to fully realise the benefits of Business Process Management, it is essential to have the ability to transform business process models into executable process instances. These processes can be designed, executed, monitored, analysed and improved using Business Process Management Systems. The application of these systems can lead to significant cost reductions to an organisation and provide it with the flexibility to rapidly adapt to an ever-changing environment. Major themes of the unit include the theoretical and operational underpinnings of process automation, a detailed discussion on workflow patterns, runtime process flexibility and exception handling, and the design, implementation and deployment of process specifications using a state-of-the-art business process automation environment.
IFN663 Enterprise and Security Architecture
This unit provides knowledge and skills for modelling IT systems, at the whole-of-enterprise level, using enterprise and security architecture. Enterprise architecture supports the capture of IT systems and how they align with business operations. Security architecture concerns systems and processes which protect IT systems from unauthorised access and cyberattacks. Both are critical for the planning, design, investment and governance of IT, given that cyberphysical landscapes, spanning organisations and IT, are now recognised as ‘critical infrastructure’. You will learn how to capture enterprise and security architecture using the multi-layered modelling method, Archimate, used in the widely framework, TOGAF (The Open Group Architecture Framework). Based on this higher-level architectural context, you will learn how to provide architectures of individual software applications through components, interactions and secure communications. .
Enrolment restrictions
Postgraduate students can't enrol in:
- first-year undergraduate core units
- postgraduate honours-level units, which change from year to year.
Enrolment in capstone units is generally not allowed, as these units require extended knowledge gained throughout the course of a full degree.
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